It has to do with the psychology of habit. The whole reason why 12 step programs are proven to work is that they are based on the psychology of habit and creating new rituals. There is a trigger or cue, the response, and then the reward. There is one more aspect of why 12 step programs are proven to work, and it has to do with belief. When we see someone else doing something we believe we can, too. This is especially powerful in group settings and even more powerful if the nature of your addiction was social. For example: Drinking at a bar. My addiction was not very social, but I did benefit from learning about others succeed in recovery. I didn't, however, go to meetings, and my rituals and habit replacements are different than the 12 steps model.

It's much more challenging to quit something that permanently messes with the way we produce dopamine like the white stuff or opiates. With time and good health practices as well as mindfulness and proper habit therapy practices it can be overcome with patience.

Addiction is powerful because it is a play on how we produce dopamine because of certain cues and triggers. If we don't give in we feel really bad. If we are addicted to the big drugs it messes with that natural survival mechanism our species have adapted in order to survive.

Habit therapy works with the way we respond to triggers, as well as replacing destructive habits with healthy habits. Merely quitting is not effective. You have to replace the habit with another habit.

While a lot of research has gone into the topic of habit therapy, I don't think it is well known because it seems like capitalism relies on our obsession compulsive lack of control and dependency on dopamine fixes. I think consumerism plays on these habit-forming tendencies. Not only that, drugs are such a big market in this country.

We can all create our own recovery programs. The 12 step programs are based on the psychology of habit.

Groups are important when it comes to facilitating any kind of change whether it be internal or external/social change. The internet has brought this phenomenon to a whole new level. It's exciting the kinds of rapid change and awakening we are experiencing on this planet right now because of our ability to witness fellow rebels all over the world. It's cool that this website is around.